HE WHĀNAU RETI RAPA KOTAHI
Jointly with our sister league Swamp City from Te Papaioea, Palmerston North, we have our home season called “He Whānau Reti Rapa Kotahi”.
With this yearly series our rua (two) tīma reti rapa (roller derby teams) join forces to create our own interleague tournament to whakanuia (celebrate) not only this beautiful sport, but to whakatairanga (promote) and whakaatu ki te hapori (demonstrate) to the rest of the roller derby community in Aotearoa the importance of encompassing mātāpono māori (māori principles) such as Whanaungatanga, Kotahitanga and Manaakitanga within our groups.
Teams
NGAKE
Named after one of the taniwha of the Pōneke Harbour, our kahurangi (blue) team lives up to its name. Ngake was energetic and creative - he planned his escape from the harbour and now lives in Te Moana O Raukawa!
WHĀTAITAI
Named after the other taniwha of the Pōneke Harbour, our kōwhai (yellow) team honours its homonym taniwha. Calm, friendly and resilient, Whātaitai’s body eventually turned to stone and is known to this day as Haitaitai!
WHĀNGAIMOKOPUNA
Named after the taniwha of the Manawatu River. Our whero (red) team’s appetite for glory is only comparable to their homonym taniwha’s appetite for mokopuna! Once a pet to the Motuiti people, it is said that whenever Rangitāne from the lower Manawatū and the Motuiti people visit Dannevirke, a mist descends on the Rāikatia and Te Whāngai mountain ranges, and this is Whāngaimokopuna remembering his original home.
We are proud and energised to work alongside Swamp City Roller Derby towards decolonising our leagues and making our spaces inclusive for all.
Tihei Mauri Ora!